Admission of International Students

• Admission process
• Applicant lists and results of competitive selection process
• Procedures for recognising foreign educational documents
• Events (such as presentations, olympiads, competitions, online courses)
• Programmes taught in foreign languages

can be found on the Admissions Committee website

Tel.: +7 (812) 363‑66‑33
Email: admission@spbu.ru
Working hours: Mon — Fri: 10 AM — 6 PM

Contact us for admissions enquiries

Migration Registration

All foreign citizens arriving in St Petersburg are required to complete a migration registration process. This can be done in two ways depending on your living arrangements - whether you’re staying in a hall of residence or in an apartment, hostel, or hotel.

If you're planning to live somewhere other than the University hall of residence, such as a hotel or rented apartment, the property owner or hostel/hotel administration will handle your migration registration.

Don’t forget to promptly inform the Department for Migration and Registration Affairs (former Passport and Visa Department) about your arrival in Russia (via email at pvo@spbu.ru) and send a copy of your migration card. Once you’ve completed all other necessary documents (private address migration registration, voluntary medical insurance policy), immediately send their copies to the Department for Migration and Registration Affairs.

Remember, migration registration must be carried out only at your actual place of residence through authorised organisations (Department of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Multifunctional Public Services Centres, the 'Gosuslugi' (State Services) portal). Registration through third-party organisations is illegal.

Apartment / hotel / hostel

Hall of residence

Important

If you're residing in a University Hall of Residence, please visit the Department for Migration and Registration Affairs no later than three business days after your arrival. You’ll need to provide the following documents:

• Tenancy agreement
• Passport, along with a copy that includes all stamps
• Migration card (if available) and its copy

Room 102, 7−9b Universitetskaya Emb. (Rector's Wing), St Petersburg, Tel. +7 (812) 363-64-03

Room 103, Hall of residence No. 10, Building 2, 66 Botanicheskaya Street, Peterhof, Tel. +7 (812) 363-64-07

Medical Services for International Students

All foreign citizens arriving to study at St. Petersburg State University must have:

• A valid voluntary medical insurance policy (as required by Federal Law No. 115-FZ of July 25, 2002, article 5, clause 5.1)
• Additional medical documents required for dormitory check-in, including a fluorography certificate

If your insurance plan does not include the services listed above, these medical treatments will be provided on a fee-paying basis.

If you require consultation or assistance, simply send your request to our club's email (sovetkio@spbu.ru) or message us on our VKontakte group.

SPbU International Students Club

This club is specially designed for you, our international students at SPbU. Here, you can find the information you need about your stay at the University and in Russia.

The club’s staff is dedicated to understanding and meeting your needs, participating in the development of measures to enhance your stay, and offering consultations and help whenever needed.

Any student is welcome to contribute questions to our meeting agenda, attend meetings, propose ideas, and even become an organiser or participant in events.

Student Exchange Programme

Our student exchange program is available to students from SPbU partner universities who plan to spend one or two semesters at SPbU. Tuition is waived under bilateral cooperation agreements.

Invitations Letters to Enter the Russian Federation

For obtaining an entry invitation to the Russian Federation, international students should contact their respective academic affairs office according to their study programme or submit a request through the Student’s Personal Account. First-year international applicants should apply to the SPbU International Admissions Office.

If a foreign citizen intends to apply for a Russian visa in a country other than their home country, they are required to provide a copy of their residency permit along with the original notarised translation of the presented document. The document must be valid until the end of the period required for the Russian visa issuance process.

Types of visas to study in SPbU:

• Study visa (with possibility of extension until the end of studying period)
• Short-term study visa (non-extendable, for short-term educational programmes)

RuID App

You can log into the ruID app using your Gosuslugi username and password. If you don’t yet have a Gosuslugi account, you can register during your first login to the app or in advance via the Gosuslugi portal.

From 30 June 2025 to 30 June 2026, an experimental entry/exit procedure will be implemented at all Russian border checkpoints. Its objective is to establish a digital profile for every foreign national entering the country.

The ruID application is mandatory for all foreign citizens and stateless persons entering Russia under visa-free regime.

What to Do Before Your Trip?

Step-by-Step Procedure

Prepare the Required Documents and Information

Procedure for Obtaining a SIM Card

Visit a mobile operator’s office and present the required documents. Please note that if more than 10 SIM cards have already been registered to your name, your request for a new SIM will be denied.

Verify your identity by biometric authentication. This can be done either at the mobile operator’s office or through the 'Gosuslugi' portal.

1

To buy a SIM card, foreign nationals and stateless persons will need a verified account on the 'Gosuslugi' (State Services) portal as well as biometric data registered at a bank.

A SIM card can only be issued in person. Additionally, in Russia you must be at least 14 years old to sign a mobile service contract.